Thaao Penghlis
News

Aside from being grateful for his Daytime Emmy Award nomination, Thaao Penghlis wants to make one thing clear: he's not a threat to national security.

The Days of Our Lives star told The Knoxville News that he recently became a United States citizen (the Australia-native was born to Greek parents) due to how America has embraced him. But it hasn't been an easy road.

"I go to countries where terrorists reside, like Jordan and no one goes with me," Penghlis said. "When you travel alone, (security) thinks something is wrong. They always pull my bags. They always go through them. They always pull me out of line. Even when I was getting my immigration papers, there were foreigners all around.

"Who did they pull out of line? Me."

Still, the actor isn't bitter about the experience. He understands it, and remains thankful that the country has given him a chance to shine in a show such as Days of Our Lives.

Tune in to the Daytime Emmys tomorrow night to see if he takes home a trophy!

After almost 30 years playing Tony DiMera on Days of Our Lives, Thaao Penghlis has finally been recognized.

It's safe to say the Australian actor did not expect to be nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.

‘‘I was not expecting anything,'' he recently told The Herald Sun. ‘‘In fact, I was meditating and didn't hear the phone ringing with people calling to congratulate me. I've won awards before, but never an Emmy. The Emmy is one of those things, like the Oscar is to film - it's the award for television.

Even if I don't win, it will completely change the way that I'm described. In articles I'll now be Emmy-nominated or Emmy-winner Thaao Penghlis.''

Emmy-nominated Days of Our Lives actor Thaao Penghlis wrote the following new message on his official website:

"Thank you to everyone for your kind thought and wishes for the Emmy nomination. I am truely [sic] grateful for all your support and letters over the past year. The people I'm up against for the Emmy are all dedicated and talented actors and the competition is strong but I feel I have a great chance as well.

Let's hope the 20th of June comes around quickly! We've organised our next chat for Saturday, the 18th of May at 4pm so until then all take care.

Love, Thaao"

Thaao Penghlis has appeared on General Hospital and, now, Days of Our Lives.

With that in mind, take a look at a few random facts about the actor:

• A film buff since the age of five, Penghlis used to sell beer bottles gathered from the streets of Sydney to earn money to buy movie tickets.

• Upon moving to New York, Penghlis joined Australia's mission at the United Nations.

• While working for designer Robert Meledandri, Penghlis and company did suits for Robert Redford and producer Robert Evans.

• He has climbed to the summit of Mt. Sinai.

• He taught Kelly LeBrock how to dance for a sequence in their 2007 film, The Mirror.